Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 30 May the European Commission adopted a Directive on the protection of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). Scientific studies have revealed serious health and welfare shortcomings in the intensive farming of chickens. This is the first European legislation on the matter. Currently only the general requirements of the 1998 Directive on the welfare of farm animals apply. The proposal only applies to establishments with at least 100 chickens...